While which games to be broadcast live by BBC Wales and S4C and those by Sky has yet to be finalised, the deal gives the public service broadcasters a minimum each of 22 games a season.

Negotiations had been taking place for more than a year between BBC Wales executives and the company which negotiates commercial deals on behalf of the WRU and the Irish and Scottish unions Celtic Rugby Ltd.

As well as the domestic league Celtic Rugby also negotiates deals for television coverage of the Six Nations and British and Irish Lions tours.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed, but is understood to be in the region of £3m a season.

Last year Celtic Rugby agreed a new four year deal, starting next season, with Sky to show around 30 games a season from the Guinness Pro12 league. It will show most of its games on Saturday afternoons.

The value of the Sky has not been disclosed but is believed to around £5m a year.

The previous four year exclusive deal with BBC Wales – which in turn provided coverage for S4C – was understood to be worth around £5m a season.

We’ve struck a terrific deal with Celtic Rugby that ensures every fan in Wales has the very best view of the action.”

Chief executive of S4C Ian Jones said: "I’m very proud that S4C has once again ensured that Welsh regional rugby is available to view on free-to-air TV. Live Guinness Pro12 action will be one of the cornerstones of Clwb; S4C’s new Sunday afternoon sports service.

“By working together, S4C and BBC Cymru Wales have succeeded in ensuring that regional rugby remains available to everyone in Wales.”

Under the previous deal with BBC Wales, the WRU received the lion’s share, understood to around 70%, from Celtic Rugby –which was then washed through to the four Welsh regions.

For the new Sky and BBC Wales deals there will now be more of an equitable split between the three unions, but it will still result in the four regions each receiving increased funding than previously.

Last season BBC Wales regularly pulled in audiences for its live games from the then RaboDirect Pro12 league of between 150,000 to 190,000. S4C’s games had audiences of around 80,000 on average.